Clayton teen claims high school diploma withheld after graduation speech touched on ICE, genocide
A Clayton teen went viral over the weekend after claiming her school withheld her diploma because of comments she made during her graduation speech.
During the graduation ceremony for Clayton High School on Thursday, May 28, Leen Hijaz delivered the welcome speech. As she reached the closing remarks of her speech, Hijaz began speaking about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Palestine.
“Before I leave the stage, I have one last thing to say. Every single person here has a voice; we have the privilege to use it when millions around the world are struggling and suffering to be heard. Whether it’s the millions suffering in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan and so many other countries around the world, or the families being torn apart by ICE. These are not just an issue there; they are happening there, they’re happening right here as I speak. My point is, we’re not given a voice to stay silent.”Leen Hijaz, Clayton High School graduate
During Hijaz’s remarks on ICE, a woman, who Hijaz says is her principal, appeared to stop Hijaz, who went back to her seat on stage.
The moment was captured on video as Clayton High School livestreamed the commencement on the school’s YouTube page. The video of the interruption then began circulating on Instagram, Reddit and TikTok accounts.
The day after the graduation, Hijaz on her TikTok account said that her diploma was being withheld because of her speech.
“Throughout my entire life, my education has been something so important,” Hijaz said. “I worked hard for 12 years. For that to be taken from me, I feel oppressed.”
In a statement provided to WRAL News, Johnston County Public Schools said that students were required to submit their remarks well in advance of the graduation, and that a student deviated from what was preapproved by administrators.
“School administrators intervened in order to maintain the integrity and focus of the program in real time. This action was not about limiting a student’s voice, but about ensuring that a school-sponsored event remained consistent with its intended purpose,” the district said.
Johnston County Public Schools did not specifically state that Hijaz’s diploma was withheld as a result of the speech.
In the TikTok video, Hijaz acknowledged the end of her speech was a spur-of-the-moment decision, adding that she didn’t submit it as part of her official speech because the school would’ve denied it “immediately.”
“I was extremely scared to say something and really wasn’t planning on doing it, but I had so much support from my friends and family around me, and they encouraged me to say something,” Hijaz said. “I didn’t get to say everything I wanted to say, but I said enough.”
The school district said that while they respect students’ right to express their views and encourage important conversations on them, they have “a responsibility to ensure that official school events remain inclusive, respectful and focused on celebrating all graduates.”
“We remain committed to supporting student expression while upholding the structure and expectations of school-sponsored activities,” the district said.
WRAL asked Hijaz how she would respond to critics who say a high school graduation is not the place for political or controversial topics. She maintains that it was the perfect time.
“Where is the place and time? What is the right place and time,” said Hijaz. “My words made an extremely big change in my community. Nobody was talking about anything that was going on in the world, but now people are engaging, people are learning more people want to talk about it.”
